Paenibacillus spp. and methods for fermentation of lignocellulosic materials

ABSTRACT

Provided herein are methods for producing a fermentation product, such as ethanol, by co-culture of a member of the genus  Paenibacillus  and an ethanologenic microbe, such as yeast or  E. coli . Also provided are methods for making enzymes useful in the saccharification of a pretreated lignocellulosic material. The enzymes may be made by culturing a member of the genus  Paenibacillus  in a composition suitable for production of such enzymes. An example of such a composition is a pretreated lignocellulosic material, for example, spent hydrolysates. Also provided are genetically modified members of the genus  Paenibacillus  that have been genetically modified to not produce an antimicrobial, for instance, a polymyxin E.

CONTINUING APPLICATION DATA

This application is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No.12/993,318, filed Mar. 8, 2011, which is the §371 U.S. National Stage ofInternational Application No. PCT/US2009/045067, filed 22 May 2009,which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.61/055,485, filed May 23, 2008, each of which are incorporated byreference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

The use of enzymes to saccharify lignocellulosic biomass is typicallyperformed after other physical and/or chemical methods of pretreatmentand can be accomplished prior to or in conjunction with fermentation.Pretreatment breaks down biomass to allow access to the enzymes, whichcan then hydrolyse the remaining cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectinpolymers. Most enzymatic saccharifications are performed withcommercially available cell-free extracts of fungal cultures, or in somecases, bacterial cultures, designed to provide predominantly cellulase,xylanase, or pectinase hydrolysis of the lignocellulose. The fungalenzymes typically have optima of 45° C. and pH 4.5, which can differsignificantly from optimal fermentation conditions, especially when theethanologen is a bacterium.

Cellulose degradation can occur via free, secreted enzymes or by enzymecomplexes attached to the surface of microorganisms (a cellulosome).While anaerobic organisms typically possess cellulosomes, aerobicbacteria and fungi typically employ free enzymes. The degradation ofcellulose is achieved through the action of three types of enzymes:endo-glucanases, cellobiohydrolases (or exo-glucanases), andβ-glucosidases. Endo- and exo-glucanases cleave within or at the end ofthe glucan chain, respectively, and are classified based on both theirstructural fold and catalytic mechanism. Hydrolysis of cellulose byglucanases is catalyzed by two carboxyl groups in the active site andcan either invert or retain configuration of the anomeric carbon.Enzymes that retain chirality use a double-displacement mechanism with acovalent enzyme-substrate intermediate while enzymes that invertchirality operate by a single-step concerted mechanism, β-glucosidasescleave cellobiose to monomeric glucose and are essential for overallcellulose degradation to glucose; accumulated cellobiose and/or glucoseinhibit the activity of glucanases.

Hemicellulases are either glycoside hydrolases (GHs) or carbohydrateesterases (CEs), and are classified into families based on theiractivity and homology of primary sequence. GH enzymes are responsiblefor the hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds, while ester linked acetate andferulic acids side chains are cleaved by CE enzymes. As the structure ofhemicellulose is very heterogeneous, a wide array of enzymes isnecessary for hydrolysis. Additionally, many hemicellulases havecarbohydrate-binding modules in addition to catalytic domains; as muchof the hemicellulose structure can be insoluble, thecarbohydrate-binding modules play a role in targeting of the enzymes tothe polymers.

Xylan is one major type of hemicellulose. Xylanases cleave the β-1,4glycosidic bonds of the xylose backbone, while xylosidases hydrolyzeresultant oligomers to monomeric xylose. Ferulic acid esterases andacetyl-xylan esterases cleave the ester bonds of ferulic acid andacetate side chains, respectively. Arabinofuranosidases hydrolyzearabinofuranosyl side chains from the xylose backbone and can havevarying specificity as to the location of the arabinofuranosyl group.Finally, glucuronidases are responsible for the cleavage of glucuronicacid side chain α-1,2-glycosidic bonds.

A second form of hemicellulose is substituted β-mannan, such asgalactomannan. Much like xylanases, β-mannanases are responsible forcleaving the mannose backbone to oligomers, which are then hydrolyzed tomonomeric mannose by mannosidases. Side chain moieties, like galactose,are cleaved by respective GHs, and, in this case, by α-galactosidases.

Pectinases can be divided into three general activity groups:protopectinases, which act on insoluble pectic polymers; esterases,which de-esterify methyl and acetyl moieties from pectin; anddepolymerases, which either cleave or hydrolyze glycosidic bonds withpolygalacturonic acid polymers. Protopectinases are usually unnecessaryfor degradation of lignocellulose if physical and/or chemicalpretreatment methods have been employed prior to enzymaticsaccharification.

Pectin methylesterases are well described in bacteria, and fungi and areresponsible for the hydrolysis of the ester linkages from thepolygalacturonic acid backbone. Pectin acetylesterases, which act in thesame manner as pectin methylesterases to remove acetyl groups, have beendescribed in plants and fungi; however, this type of enzyme has beenfound in only one bacterium, Erwinia chrysanthemi 3937. Pectin esterasesare particularly important because many depolymerases cannot act uponmethylated or acetylated pectin.

Pectin depolymerases act upon the polygalacturonate backbone and belongto one of two families: polygalacturonases or lyases. Polygalacturonasesare responsible for the hydrolytic cleavage of the polygalacturonatechain, while lyases cleave by β-elimination giving a Δ 4,5-unsaturatedproduct. For pectin polymers with a rhamnogalacturonan-I backbone, otherhydrolases are also necessary; rhamnosidases hydrolyze rhamnose from thebackbone, and arabinofuranosidases and galactosidases cleave arabinoseand galactose, respectively, from substituted rhamnose subunits.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Provided herein are methods for producing ethanol. In some aspects themethods include fermenting a composition that includes a pretreatedlignocellulosic material, wherein the fermenting includes contacting thecomposition with an ethanologenic microbe and a Paenibacillus spp., suchas P. amylolyticus. The pretreated lignocellulosic material may bepresent at a concentration of at least 10% solids, and the fermentingmay be a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation. In some aspectsthe ethanologenic microbe may be a yeast, such as Saccharomycescerevisiae, or a prokaryotic microbe, such as E. coli. The pretreatedlignocellulosic material may be pine, such as Pinus taeda. ThePaenibacillis spp. may produce an enzyme having saccharifying activitywhen incubated on a medium that includes inorganic salts and a carbonsource selected from glucose, mannose, xylose, arabinose, cellulose,pectin, starch, xylan, carboxymethylcellulose, or a combination thereof.

In some aspects, the Paenibacillis spp. may produce an antimicrobial,such as a polymyxin, and in other aspects the Paenibacillus spp. isgenetically modified to not produce an antimicrobial. The contacting mayinclude inoculating the composition with the Paenibacillis spp. beforeinoculating the composition with the ethanologenic microbe, forinstance, at least 12 hours before the composition is inoculated withthe ethanologenic microbe. The contacting may include inoculating thecomposition with the Paenibacillis spp. and the ethanologenic microbe atsubstantially the same time. The method may further include addingpretreated lignocellulosic material to the composition after thefermenting has begun, for instance, at least 12 hours after thefermenting has begun.

Also provided herein are methods that include providing a compositionthat includes spent hydrolysates and culturing a Paenibacillus spp.,such as Paenibacillus amylolyticus, in the composition under conditionssuitable for the production of an enzyme having saccharifying activity.In some aspects, the Paenibacillis spp. may produce an antimicrobial,such as a polymyxin, and in other aspects the Paenibacillus spp. isgenetically modified to not produce an antimicrobial. The spenthydrolysates may be obtained from fermentation of a pretreatedlignocellulosic material. The Paenibacillis spp. may produce an enzymehaving saccharifying activity when incubated on a medium that includesinorganic salts and a carbon source selected from glucose, mannose,xylose, arabinose, cellulose, pectin, starch, xylan,carboxymethylcellulose, or a combination thereof. The method may furtherinclude mixing the composition that includes the Paenibacillis spp. andan enzyme having saccharifying activity with a composition that includesa pretreated lignocellulosic material to result in a fermentationcomposition. This fermentation composition may be contacted with anenthanologenic microbe including a yeast, such as Saccharomycescerevisiae, or a prokaryotic microbe, such as E. coli.

Further provided herein are methods including providing a firstcomposition obtained from culturing a Paenibacillus spp., such as P.amylolyticus, in a second composition having spent hydrolysates underconditions suitable for the production of an enzyme having saccharifyingactivity, and mixing the first composition with a third composition thatincludes a pretreated lignocellulosic material to result in afermentation composition. The fermentation composition may be contactedwith an ethanologenic microbe including a yeast, such as Saccharomycescerevisiae, or a prokaryotic microbe, such as E. coli. In some aspects,the Paenibacillis spp. may produce an antimicrobial, such as apolymyxin, and in other aspects the Paenibacillus spp. is geneticallymodified to not produce an antimicrobial.

Also provided herein are methods that include culturing a Paenibacillusspp. in a composition that includes spent hydrolysates under conditionssuitable for the production of an enzyme having saccharifying activity,wherein the culturing results in a second composition that includes thePaenibacillis spp. and an enzyme having saccharifying activity. ThePaenibacillus spp. may be substantially removed from the secondcomposition. In some aspects, the Paenibacillis spp. may produce anantimicrobial, such as a polymyxin, and in other aspects thePaenibacillus spp. is genetically modified to not produce anantimicrobial.

Provided herein are genetically modified Paenibacillus amylolyticus thathave been genetically modified to not produce an antimicrobial. Theantimicrobial may be polymyxin E, and the genetically modified P.amylolyticus may include a transposon mutation that prevents expressionof polymyxin E

The term “and/or” means one or all of the listed elements or acombination of any two or more of the listed elements.

The words “preferred” and “preferably” refer to embodiments of theinvention that may afford certain benefits, under certain circumstances.However, other embodiments may also be preferred, under the same orother circumstances. Furthermore, the recitation of one or morepreferred embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are notuseful, and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scopeof the invention.

The terms “comprises” and variations thereof do not have a limitingmeaning where these terms appear in the description and claims.

Unless otherwise specified, “a,” “an,” “the,” and “at least one” areused interchangeably and mean one or more than one.

Also herein, the recitations of numerical ranges by endpoints includeall numbers subsumed within that range (e.g., 1 to 5 includes 1, 1.5, 2,2.75, 3, 3.80, 4, 5, etc.).

For any method disclosed herein that includes discrete steps, the stepsmay be conducted in any feasible order. And, as appropriate, anycombination of two or more steps may be conducted simultaneously.

The above summary is not intended to describe each disclosed embodimentor every implementation of the present invention. The description thatfollows more particularly exemplifies illustrative embodiments. Inseveral places throughout the application, guidance is provided throughlists of examples, which examples can be used in various combinations.In each instance, the recited list serves only as a representative groupand should not be interpreted as an exclusive list.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Provided herein are wild type and genetically modified Paenibacillusspp., and methods for using wild type and genetically modifiedPaenibacillus spp. for fermenting lignocellulosic materials intofermentation products. The term “fermentation product” means a productproduced by a process including a fermentation using an ethanologenicmicrobe. Fermentation products contemplated according to the inventioninclude alcohols such as, but not limited to, ethanol. Ethanol obtainedaccording to the methods described herein may be used as fuel ethanol,drinking ethanol, e.g., potable ethanol, or industrial ethanol. Amicrobe described herein, for instance, a prokaryotic microbe such as aPaenibacillus spp. or a eukaryotic microbe such as a yeast, may beisolated. A microbe is “isolated” when it has been removed from itsnatural environment and can be grown as a pure culture. A geneticallymodified Paenibacillus spp. is understood to be isolated.

Members of the genus Paenibacillus useful in the methods disclosedherein may be obtained from soil, such as soil containing organicmaterial, for example rice fields; food products (Yoshikatsu et al,2006, Biocontro. Sci., 11:43-47; Kim et al, 2009, Int. J. Syst. Evol.Microbiol, 59:1002-1006), or the digestive tract of insects that have adiet that includes lignocellulosic biomass, for instance, termites,honeybee (Neuendorf et al., 2004, Microbiol, 150:2381-2390), and Tipulaabdominalis (Cook et al, 2007, Appl. Environ. Microbiol, 73:5683-5686).Whether a microbe is a member of the genus Paenibacillus can bedetermined by routine methods known to the person skilled in the art.Examples of Paenibacillus spp. useful in the methods described hereinmay include, but are not limited to, P. amylolyticus (Nakamura, 1984,Int. J Syst Bacterial, 34:224-226; Shida et al, 1997, Int J SystBacteriol, 47, 299-306), P. pabuli (Heyndrickx et al., 1996, Int J SystBacterial, 46:988-1003; Nakamura, 1984, Int J Syst Bacteriol,34:224-226; Shida et al, 1997, Int J Syst Bacteriol 47, 299-306), P.illinoisensis (Berge et al, 2002, Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 52:607-616;Shida et al, 1997, Int J Syst Bacteriol, 47, 299-306), and P. polymyxa(Claus and Berkeley, 1986, Bacillus. IN Sneath, ed., Bergey's Manual ofSystematic Bacteriology. Baltimore, The Willimas and Wilkins Co.;Heyndrickx et al., 1996, Int J Syst Bacterid, 46:988-1003). When thePaenibacillus is P. amylolyticus, the P. amylolyticus may include a 16SrRNA sequence that is similar to, or identical to a 16S rRNA nucleotidesequence available at the Genbank database under accession numbersAY504451, AY504452, AY504453, AY504454, AY504455, or AY504456.Determining the nucleotide sequence of a 16S rRNA coding sequence can beaccomplished using routine methods known to the person skilled in theart.

The similarity between a 16S rRNA sequence present in a P. amylolyticusand a 16S rRNA nucleotide sequence available at the Genbank databaseunder accession numbers AY504451, AY504452, AY504453, AY504454,AY504455, or AY504456 is referred to as structural similarity and isdetermined by aligning the residues of the two sequences (i.e., thenucleotide sequence of a 16S rRNA sequence present in a P. amylolyticusand the sequence present at AY504451, AY504452, AY504453, AY504454,AY504455, or AY504456) to optimize the number of identical nucleotidesalong the lengths of their sequences; gaps in either or both sequencesare permitted in making the alignment in order to optimize the number ofshared nucleotides, although the nucleotides in each sequence mustnonetheless remain in their proper order. Two nucleotide sequences maybe compared using the BESTFIT algorithm in the GCG package (version10.2, Madison Wis.), or the Blastn program of the BLAST 2 searchalgorithm, as described by Tatusova, et al. (FEMS Microbiol Lett 1999,174:247-250), and available through the World Wide Web, for instance atthe internet site maintained by the National Center for BiotechnologyInformation, National Institutes of Health. Preferably, the defaultvalues for all BLAST 2 search parameters are used, including reward formatch=1, penalty for mismatch=−2, open gap penalty=5, extension gappenalty=2, gap x_dropoff=50, expect=10, wordsize=11, and optionally,filter on. In the comparison of two nucleotide sequences using the BLASTsearch algorithm, structural similarity is referred to as “identities.”Preferably, a P. amylolyticus 16S rRNA includes a nucleotide sequencehaving a structural similarity with the sequence present at AY504451,AY504452, AY504453, AY504454, AY504455, or AY504456 of at least 95%, atleast 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% identity.

A member of the genus Paenibacillus typically has characteristics thatinclude: ability to grow under anaerobic conditions; catalase activity;ability to produce acid from arabinose, glucose, mannitol, and/orxylose; starch hydrolysis activity; ability to grow in 2% NaCl; andability to grow at pH 5.6. Optionally, a member of the genusPaenibacillus may have characteristics including nitrate reductionactivity, caesin hydrolysis activity, and ability to grow in 0.001%lysozyme.

A member of the genus Paenibacillus useful in the methods describedherein has the characteristic of producing enzymes having saccharifyingactivity. The enzyme having saccharifying activity may be secreted. Asused herein, saccharifying

refers to breaking a complex carbohydrate (as starch or cellulose) intodisaccharide components, such as cellobiose, and monosaccharidecomponents, such as glucose. Examples of such activities include, butare not limited to, xylanase activity, pectinase activity, amylaseactivity, mannanase activity, and cellulase (such ascarboxymethylcellulase) activity. Examples of cellulase activity includeendo-acting and exo-acting cellulases. A member of the genusPaenibacillus useful in the methods described herein may produce one ormore enzymes having saccharifying activity during growth in aerobicconditions, microaerophilic conditions, and/or anaerobic conditions.

Whether a member of the genus Paenibacillus produces an enzyme havingone of these activities may be determined using routine methods known tothe person skilled in the art. For example, a member of the genusPaenibacillus may be grown in a defined basal medium that includes 7grams K₂HPO₄/liter, 3 grams KH₂PO₄/liter, 1 grams (NH₄)₂SO₄/liter, 0.5grams sodium citrate/liter, and 0.1 grams MgSO₄-7H₂O/liter. The definedbasal medium may be supplemented with different carbohydrates,individually or in combination, at 1% (wt/vol), and after growth in themedium for 48 hours the supernatant can be collected via centrifugationand assayed for the presence of, for instance, xylanase, pectinase,amylase, and cellulase activity using routine methods known to theperson skilled in the art. For instance, methods for assaying enzymaticactivities on the following model substrates are routine and well known:carboxymethylcellulose (Wood and Kellogg, 1988, Biomass part A:cellulose and hemicellulose, vol. 160. Academic Press, San Diego,Calif.); starch (Thomas et al., 1980, J. Gen. Microbiol, 118:67-72);xylan (Mondou et al, 1986, Gene, 49:323-330); polygalacturonate (Starret al., 1977, J. Clin. Microbiol., 6:379-386); and methylumbelliferylconjugates of cellobiopyranoside, arabinofuranoside, glucoside,mannopyranoside, and xyloside (Sharrock, 1988, J. Biochem. Biophys.Methods 17:81-106). Examples of carbohydrates that can be added to thedefined basal medium include, but are not limited to, glucose, mannose,xylose, arabinose, cellulose, pectin (for instance, polygalacturonate),starch, xylan, and carboxymethylcellulose. Complex mixtures ofcarbohydrates may also be added, such as pretreated lignocellulosicmaterial derived from, for instance, pine or Bermudagrass. Pretreatedlignocellulosic material is described herein. After growth, on thedefined basal medium supplemented with a carbohydrate at 1% (wt/vol) for48 hours, a member of the genus Paenibacillus useful in the methodsdescribed herein may produce 0061n enzyme having saccharifying activity,such as a xylanase, a pectinase, an amylase, and/or a cellulase at aconcentration of at least 0.1, at least 0.15, at least 0.2, at least0.25, at least 0.3, at least 0.35, at least 0.4, or at least 0.45International Units per milliliter (IU/ml).

A member of the genus Paenibacillus, such as P. amylolyticus, may havethe characteristic of producing phenolic acid decarboxylases, forexample, enzymes converting phenolic acids to aromatic 4-vinylderivatives, with no need for additional cofactors. Examples of suchphenolic acids include, for instance, ferulic, β-coumaric, and/orcaffeic acids. These are expected to aid in detoxifing hydroxycinnamicacids released after plant cell wall degradation.

Examples of P. amylolyticus strains useful in the methods disclosedherein include, but are not limited to, 27C64, C26, C27, C28, C29, andC30 (Cook et al, 2007, Appl. Environ. Microbiol, 73:5683-5686;Doran-Peterson and Decrescenzo-Henriksen, U.S. Patent Application20090081733).

Optionally, a member of the genus Paenibacillus useful in the methodsdescribed herein expresses an antimicrobial. An antimicrobial is acompound that is able to inhibit growth (e.g., replication) or kill amicrobe. Preferably, an antimicrobial inhibits or kills a Gram negativemicrobe, a Gram positive microbe, or both Gram negative and Grampositive microbes. Preferably, an antimicrobial produced by a member ofthe genus Paenibacillus useful in the methods described herein does notinhibit or kill a eukaryotic microbe.

The production of an antimicrobial by a member of the genusPaenibacillus can be determined by routine screening methods. Forinstance, a candidate Paenibacillus can be incubated under conditionssuitable for replication, such as aerobic or anaerobic conditions, andother microbial isolates (referred to as indicator strains) can beexposed to the candidate Paenibacillus. A candidate Paenibacillus is theisolate being assayed for the production of an antimicrobial. Indicatorstrains may be either Gram negative (such as, but not limited to, E.coli and Salmonella spp.) or Gram positive (such as, but not limited to,Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis). Methods for usingindicator strains to evaluate the activity of an antimicrobial areroutine and known to the skilled person. For instance, indicator strainscan be exposed to a culture supernatant obtained from medium in whichthe candidate Paenibacillus was grown, or the indicator strains can begrown on the same solid medium as the candidate Paenibacillus in such away to result in overlapping growth of the candidate Paenibacillus andthe indicator strains. The inhibition of growth of an indicator strainis evidence the Paenibacillus produces an antimicrobial.

An example of an antimicrobial that may be produced by a member of thegenus Paenibacillus useful in the methods described herein is apolymyxin, such as polymyxin E1 (also known as colistin A) or polymyxinE2 (also known as colistin B). A Paenibacillus may produce both. Forinstance, a polymyxin produced by a P. amylolyticus may include leucineand threonine, and either lysine, 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, or acombination thereof. The molecular weight of a polymyxin produced by aP. amylolyticus may be 1,155 or 1,169 Daltons (see Doran-Peterson andDecrescenzo-Henriksen, U.S. Patent Application 20090081733).

In some aspects, a member of the genus Paenibacillus useful in themethods described herein does not express an antimicrobial. Such strainscan be obtained by routine screening for antimicrobial-deficient membersof the genus Paenibacillus. Alternatively, a member of the genusPaenibacillus useful in the methods described herein that produces anantimicrobial can be modified to result in a genetically modifiedPaenibacillus that does not produce an antimicrobial. As used herein,“genetically modified” microbe refers to a microbe that has been altered“by the hand of man.” For example, a microbe is a genetically modifiedmicrobe by virtue of introduction into a suitable microbe of anexogenous polynucleotide. “Genetically modified microbe” also refers toa microbe that, has been genetically manipulated such that endogenousnucleotides have been altered. For example, a microbe is a geneticallymodified microbe by virtue of introduction into a suitable microbe of analteration of endogenous nucleotides. For instance, an endogenous codingregion could be deleted or mutagenized. Such mutations may result in apolypeptide having a different amino acid sequence than was encoded bythe endogenous polynucleotide.

Methods for genetically modifying Paenibacillus spp. include thoseuseful for genetically modifying members of the genus Bacillus, such asB. subtilus. Such methods are routine and known to the person skilled inthe art. Methods that may be used to result in a genetically modifiedPaenibacillus that does not produce an antimicrobial include randommutagenesis methods, such as transposon mutagenesis or exposure of cellsto a mutagen, such as nitrosoguanidine. For instance, a Paenibacillusspp. may be subjected to mutagenesis by introducing a transposon intoPaenibacillus spp. cells, and screening the resulting cells to identitycolonies that do not produce the antimicrobial.

Provided herein are methods for fermenting lignocellosic material intofermentation products. The process of producing fermentation products,preferably ethanol, from lignocellulosic materials typically includespretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis through the use of cellulases,fermentation, and recovery of the fermentation product. The process mayalso include, for instance, separation of the sugar solution fromresidual materials such as lignin. The methods disclosed hereintypically include using saccharifying enzymes produced by a wild type orgenetically modified Paenibacillus spp.

Any suitable lignocellulosic material is contemplated in context of thepresent methods. Lignocellulosic material may be any material containinglignocellulose. In some aspects, the lignocellulosic material containsat least 50 wt %, preferably at least 70 wt %, more preferably at least90 wt % lignocellulose. It is to be understood that the lignocellulosicmaterial may also include other constituents such as cellulosicmaterial, such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and may also includeconstituents such as sugars, such as fermentable sugars and/orun-fermentable sugars.

Lignocellulosic material is generally found, for example, in the stems,leaves, hulls, husks, and cobs of plants or leaves, branches, and woodof trees. Lignocellulosic material can also be, but is not limited to,herbaceous material, agricultural residues, forestry residues, municipalsolid wastes, waste paper, and pulp and paper mill residues. It isunderstood herein that lignocellulose material may be in the form ofplant cell wall material containing lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulosein a mixed matrix. In some aspects the lignocellulosic material is cornfiber, rice straw, pine wood such as Pinus taeda, poplar, wheat straw,switchgrass, Bermudagrass, paper and pulp processing waste, corn stover,corn fiber, hardwood such as poplar and birch, softwood such as Doulasfir and pine and spruce, cereal straw such as wheat straw, municipalsolid waste, industrial organic waste, office paper, sugarcane andbagasse, sugarbeets and pulp, sweet potatoes with skins, food processingwastes or mixtures thereof.

The steps following pretreatment, e.g., hydrolysis and fermentation, canbe performed separately or simultaneously. Conventional methods used toprocess the lignocellulosic material in accordance with the methodsdisclosed herein are well understood to those skilled in the art.Detailed discussion of methods and protocols for the production ofethanol from biomass are reviewed in Wyman (1999, Annu. Rev. EnergyEnviron., 24:189-226), Gong et al. (1999, Adv. Biochem. Engng. Biotech.,65: 207-241), Sun and Cheng (2002, Bioresource Technol., 83:1-11), andOlsson and Hahn-Hagerdal (1996, Enzyme and Microb. Technol.,18:312-331). The methods of the present invention may be implementedusing any conventional biomass processing apparatus (also referred toherein as a bioreactor) configured to operate in accordance with theinvention. Such an apparatus may include a batch-stirred reactor, acontinuous flow stirred reactor with ultrafiltration, a continuousplug-flow column reactor (Gusakov, A. V., and Sinitsyn, A. P., 1985,Enz. Microb. Technol., 7: 346-352), an attrition reactor (Ryu, S. K.,and Lee, J. M., 1983, Biotechnol. Bioeng., 25: 53-65), or a reactor withintensive stirring induced by an electromagnetic field (Gusakov, A. V.,Sinitsyn, A. P., Davydkin, I. Y., Davydkin, V. Y., Protas, O. V., 1996,Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol, 56: 141-153). Smaller scale fermentations maybe conducted using, for instance, a flask or a fleaker.

The conventional methods include, but are not limited to,saccharification, fermentation, separate hydrolysis and fermentation(SHF), simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF),simultaneous saccharification and cofermentation (SSCF), hybridhydrolysis and fermentation (HHF), and direct microbial conversion(DMC). The fermentation can be carried out by batch fermentation or byfed-batch fermentation.

SHF uses separate process steps to first enzymatically hydrolyzecellulose to glucose and then ferment glucose to ethanol. In SSF, theenzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose and the fermentation of glucose toethanol are combined in one step (Philippidis, G. P., 1996, Cellulosebioconversion technology, in Handbook on Bioethanol: Production andUtilization, Wyman, C. E., ed., Taylor & Francis, Washington, D.C.,179-212). SSCF includes the coferementation of multiple sugars (Sheehan,J., and Himmel, M., 1999, Enzymes, energy and the environment: Astrategic perspective on the U.S. Department of Energy's research anddevelopment activities for bioethanol, Biotechnol. Prog., 15: 817-827).HHF includes two separate steps earned out in the same reactor but atdifferent temperatures, i.e., high temperature enzymaticsaccharification followed by SSF at a lower temperature that thefermentation strain can tolerate. DMC combines ail three processes(cellulase production, cellulose hydrolysis, and fermentation) in onestep (Lynd, L. R., Weimer, P. J., van Zyl, W. H., and Pretorius, I. S.,2002, Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Reviews, 66: 506-577).

There are numerous pretreatment methods or combinations of pretreatmentmethods known in the art and routinely used. Physical pretreatmentbreaks down the size of lignocellulosic material by milling oraqueous/steam processing. Chipping or grinding may be used to typicallyproduce particles between 0.2 and 30 mm in size. Methods used forlignocelluosic materials typically require intense physicalpretreatments such as steam explosion and other such treatments(Peterson et al., U.S. Patent Application 20090093028). The most commonchemical pretreatment methods used for lignocellulosic materials includedilute acid, alkaline, organic solvent, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, carbondioxide or other chemicals to make the biomass more available toenzymes. Biological pretreatments are sometimes used in combination withchemical treatments to solubilize the lignin in order to make cellulosemore accessible to hydrolysis and fermentation.

Steam explosion is a common method for pretreatment of lignocellulosicbiomass and increases the amount of cellulose available for enzymatichydrolysis (Foody, U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,648). Generally, the material istreated with high-pressure saturated steam and the pressure is rapidlyreduced, causing the materials to undergo an explosive decompression.Steam explosion is typically initiated at a temperature of 160-260° C.for several seconds to several minutes at pressures of up to 4.5 to 5MPa. The biomass is then exposed to atmospheric pressure. The processtypically causes hemicellulose degradation and lignin transformation.Addition of H₂SO₄, SO₂, or CO₂ to the steam explosion reaction canimprove subsequent cellulose hydrolysis, decrease production ofinhibitory compounds and lead to the more complete removal ofhemicellulose (Morjanoff and Gray, 1987, Biotechnol. Bioeng.29:733-741).

In ammonia fiber explosion (AFEX) pretreatment, biomass is treated withapproximately 1-2 kg ammonia per kg dry biomass for approximately 30minutes at pressures of 1.5 to 2 MPa. (Dale, U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,590;Dale, U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,663; Mes-Hartree, et al. 1988, Appl.Microbiol. Biotechnol, 29:462-468). Like steam explosion, the pressureis then rapidly reduced to atmospheric levels, boiling the ammonia, andexploding the lignocellulosic material. AFEX pretreatment appears to beespecially effective for biomass with a relatively low lignin content,but not for biomass with high lignin content, such as newspaper or aspenchips (Sun and Cheng, 2002, Bioresource Technol, 83:1-11).

Concentrated or dilute acids may also be used for pretreatment oflignocellulosic biomass. H₂SO₄ and HCl have been used at highconcentrations, for instance, greater than 70%. In addition topretreatment, concentrated acid may also be used for hydrolysis ofcellulose (Hester et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,118). Dilute acids can beused at either high (>160° C.) or low (<160° C.) temperatures, althoughhigh temperature is preferred for cellulose hydrolysis (Sun and Cheng,2002, Bioresource Technol, 83:1-11). H₂SO₄ and HQ at concentrations of0.3 to 2% (wt/wt) and treatment times ranging from minutes to 2 hours orlonger can be used for dilute acid pretreatment.

Other pretreatments include alkaline hydrolysis (Qian et al, 2006, Appl.Biochem. Biotechnol, 134:273; Galbe and Zacchi, 2002, Appl. Microbiol.Biotechnol, 59:618), oxidative delignification, organosolv process (Panet al, 2005, Biotechnol Bioeng., 90:473; Pan et. al, 2006, BiotechnolBioeng., 94:851; Pan et. al, 2006, J. Agric. Food Chem., 54:5806; Pan etal, 2.007, Appl Biochem. Biotechnol, 137-140:367), or biologicalpretreatment.

Some of the pretreatment processes described above include hydrolysis ofthe hemicellulose and cellulose to monomer sugars. Others, such asorganosolv, prepare the substrates so that they will be susceptible tohydrolysis. This hydrolysis step can in fact be part of the fermentationprocess if some methods, such as simultaneous saccharification andfermentation (SSF), is used. Otherwise, the pretreatment may be followedby enzymatic hydrolysis with cellulases.

A cellulase may be any enzyme involved in the degradation oflignocellulose to glucose, xylose, mannose, galactose, and arabinose.The cellulolytic enzyme may be a multicomponent enzyme preparation,e.g., cellulase, a monocomponent enzyme preparation, e.g.,endoglucanase, cellobiohydrolase, glucohydrolase, beta-glucosidase, or acombination of multicomponent and monocomponent enzymes. Thecellulolytic enzymes may have activity, e.g., hydrolyze cellulose,either in the acid, neutral, or alkaline pH-range.

A cellulase may be of fungal or bacterial origin, which may beobtainable or isolated from microorganisms which are known to be capableof producing cellulolytic enzymes, e.g., species of Humicola, Coprinus,Thielavia, Fusarium, Myceliophthora, Acremonium, Cephalosporium,Scytalidium, Penicillium or Aspergillus (see, for example, EP 458162),especially those produced by a strain selected from the species Humicolainsolens (reclassified as Scytalidium thermophilum, see for example,Barbesgaard et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,307), Coprinus cinereus,Fusarium oxysporum, Myceliophthora thermophila, Meripilus giganteus,Thielavia terrestris, Acremonium sp., Acremonium persicinum, Acremoniumacremonium, Acremonium brachypenium, Acremonium dichromosporum,Acremonium obclavatum, Acremonium pinkertoniae, Acremonium roseogriseum,Acremonium incoloratum, and Acremonium furatum; preferably from thespecies Humicola insolens DSM 1800, Fusarium oxysporum DSM 2672,Myceliophthora thermophila CBS 117.65, Cephalosporium sp. RYM-202,Acremonium sp. CBS 478.94, Acremonium sp. CBS 265.95, Acremoniumpersicinum CBS 169.65, Acremonium acremonium AHU 9519, Cephalosporiumsp. CBS 535.71, Acremonium brachypenium CBS 866.73, Acremoniumdichromosporum CBS 683.73, Acremonium obclavatum CBS 311.74, Acremoniumpinkertoniae CBS 157.70, Acremonium roseogriseum CBS 134.56, Acremoniumincoloratum CBS 146.62, and Acremonium furatum CBS 299.70H. Cellulolyticenzymes may also be obtained from Trichoderma (particularly Trichodermaviride, Trichoderma reesei, and Trichoderma koningii), alkalophilicBacillus (see, for example, Horikoshi et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,844,890 andEP 458162), and Streptomyces (see, for example, EP 458162). Usefulcellulases may be produced by fermentation of the above-noted microbialstrains on a nutrient medium containing suitable carbon and nitrogensources and inorganic salts, using procedures known in the art.

Examples of cellulases suitable for use in the present inventioninclude, for example, CELLUCLAST (available from Novozymes A/S) andNOVOZYME (available from Novozymes A/S). Other commercially availablepreparations including cellulase which may be used include CELLUZYME,CEREFLO and ULTRAFLO (Novozymes A/S), LAMINEX and SPEZYME CP (GenencorInt.), and ROHAMENT 7069 W (Rohm GmbH).

Typically, cellulase enzymes may be added in amounts effective from 5 to35 filter paper units (FPU) of activity per gram of substrate, or 0.001%to 5.0% wt. of solids. In those aspects of the methods described hereinwhere the hydrolysis and fermentation following pretreatment areperformed separately (e.g., SHF), the cellulase enzymes typically usedfor hydrolysis may be supplemented with enzymes produced by aPaenibacillus spp. described herein. Paenibacillus spp. derived enzymesmay be obtained by growing a Paenibacillus spp. under conditionssuitable for the production of enzymes having saccharifying activity.Conditions that are “suitable” for an event to occur, such as productionof enzymes having saccharifying activity, or “suitable” conditions areconditions that do not prevent such events from occurring. Thus, theseconditions permit, enhance, facilitate, and/or are conducive to theevent. Suitable conditions include growth in a medium that includespretreated lignocellulosic material. An example of a pretreatedlignocellulosic material includes spent hydrolystates, e.g., thematerial remaining after lignocellulosic material is subjected topretreatement, hydrolysis, fermentation, and recovery of a fermentationproduct. Typically, the spent hydrolysate includes a carbon source,e.g., carbohydrates, that were not catabolized by an ethanologenicmicrobe during a fermentation. In one aspect, when the ethanologenicmicrobe is a yeast that does not use pentoses, such as xylose, thepentoses present in the spent hydrolysate can be used by a Paenibacillusspp. as a carbon source. Spent hydrolysates may be supplemented withnutrients such as, but not limited to, components of the defined basalmedium described herein to promote growth of a Paenibacillus spp. Insome aspects, a spent hydrolysate is not supplemented with a carbonsource, and in other aspects, for instance when production of the spenthydrolysate consumes all carbon sources, the spent hydrolysate may besupplemented with a carbon source. Conditions suitable for growth of aPaenibacillus spp. in spent hydrolysates include between 25° C. and 37°C., and pH of between 5 and 7. The production of enzymes byPaenibacillus spp. during the growth in the spent hydrolysates may bemonitored using routine methods known to the skilled person.

The spent hydrolysate containing Paenibacillus spp, and enzymes producedduring the incubation can be used for saccharification oflignocellulosic materials before fermentation. For instance, if theincubation of a Paenibacillus spp. in spent hydrolysate was in abioreactor, pretreated lignocellulosic material may be added andhydrolysis allowed to proceed. Alternatively, the spent hydrolysate, nowcontaining enzymes produced by the Paenibacillus spp., can betransferred to a bioreactor. Optionally, the Paenibacillus spp. may besubstantially removed by, for instance, centrifugation prior to thetransfer. The hydrolysis of the pretreated lignocellulosic material may,and typically does, require addition of cellulases often used in thehydrolysis of lignocellulosic material; however, the amount ofcellulases (e.g., cellulases available from Novozymes A/S) appropriatefor the hydrolysis is decreased due to the presence of the enzymesproduced by the Paenibacillus spp. Typically, the amount of cellulases(e.g., cellulases available from Novozymes A/S) required for hydrolysisof the pretreated lignocellulosic material is decreased by at least 5%,at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, or at least 30%.Thus, cellulase enzymes typically added at 5 to 35 FPU of activity pergram of substrate can be decreased, for instance, to between 4.5 and31.5 FPU of activity per gram of substrate, or to between 4.5 and 28 FPUof activity per gram of substrate. Furthermore, in this and otheraspects, the ethanol in a fermentation is produced in a shorter periodof time. This decreased need for cellulases can result in a significantdecrease in costs associated with producing fermentation products fromlignocellulosic materials.

A Paenibacillus spp, may be prepared for addition to pretreatedlignocellulosic materials, e.g., spent hydrolysates, by routineculturing of Paenibacillus spp. For instance, a Paenibacillus spp. maybe incubated in liquid medium, concentrated by centrifugation, andsuspended in medium at a concentration that permits addition of asuitable volume to result in an appropriate number of cells added to thespent hydrolysates. Typically, enough cells are added to result in atleast 5×10⁴, at least 1×10⁵, or at least 5×10⁵ cells per milliliter ofspent hydrolysate. Optionally, the culture broth is also added to thespent hydrolysate. For instance, the supernatant resulting fromconcentrating the cells is added. Reaction conditions for enzymatichydrolysis using cellulases and enzymes produced by a Paenibacillus spp.are typically pH 5 to 7 at a temperature between 30° C. and 37° C. withincubations of between 12 and 24 hours. Surfactants may also be usedduring enzyme hydrolysis to improve cellulose conversion (Vlasenko etal, U.S. Pat. No. 7,354,743). In those aspects wherein the culture brothis added, the mixture of culture broth and pretreated lignocellulosicmaterial, such as spent hydrolysates, may be incubated at an elevatedtemperature before addition of an ethanologenic microbe, such as atemperature between 40° C. and 60° C., or between 45° C. and 55° C.Typically, if the enzymes are to be used with lignocellulosic materialsthat will be fermented with a prokaryotic microbe, such as E. coli, thePaenibacillus spp. is typically one that does not produce anantimicrobial that is active against Gram negative microbes. If theenzymes are to be used with lignocellulosic materials that will befermented with a eukaryotic microbe, such as yeast, the Paenibacillusspp. is typically one that does produce an antimicrobial that is activeagainst prokaryotic microbes. It is expected that other microbes,including Clostridium spp. such as C. thermocellum, C. phytofermentans,Byssovorax cruenta, Eubacterium cellulosolvens, and Cellvibrio mixtusmay also be used to produce saccharifying enzymes by growth on spenthydrolysates, and those enzymes may be used to supplement hydrolysis ofpretreated lignocellulosic materials.

In those aspects of the methods described herein where the hydrolysisand fermentation steps following pretreatment are performedsimultaneously (e.g., SSF), the cellulase enzymes typically used forhydrolysis (e.g., cellulases available from Novozymes A/S) may besupplemented by co-culturing an ethanologenic microbe with aPaenibacillus spp. described herein during the hydrolysis/fermentation.Co-culture may also be used during the fermentation step of a processthat includes separate hydrolysis and fermentation steps. Paenibacillusspp. may be added to pretreated lignocellulosic material prior toaddition of an ethanologenic microbe, or added to pretreatedlignocellulosic material at the same time an ethanologenic microbe isadded. Addition of a Paenibacilus spp, to a fermentation was expected toresult in decreased ethanol production since an ethanologenic microbeand a Paenibacilus spp. would compete for the same carbon source;however, there was found to be no decrease in ethanol production, and insome aspects, maximum ethanol production occurs in less time.

A Paenibacillus spp. may be prepared for addition to pretreatedlignocellulosic materials by routine culturing of Paenibacillus spp. Forinstance, a, Paenibacillus spp. may be incubated in liquid medium,concentrated by centrifugation, and suspended in medium at aconcentration that permits addition of a suitable volume to thehydrolysate/fermentation volume to result in an appropriate number ofcells per mililiter. Typically, enough cells are added to result in atleast 5×10⁴, at least 1×10⁵, or at least 5×10⁵ cells per milliliter ofhydrolysis/fermentation volume. Optionally, the culture broth resultingfrom growth of a Paenibacillus spp. is also added to thehydrolysis/fermentation volume. For instance, the supernatant resultingfrom concentrating the cells is added. The culture broth may be at least10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, or at least 40% of the total volume ofthe hydrolysis/fermentation mixture.

The hydrolysis/fermentation of the pretreated lignocellulosic materialmay, and typically does, require addition of cellulases (e.g.,cellulases available from Novozymes A/S); however, the amount ofcellulases appropriate for the hydrolysis is decreased due to thepresence of the enzymes produced by the Paenibacillus spp. Typically,the amount of cellulases (e.g., cellulases available from Novozymes A/S)required for hydrolysis of the pretreated lignocellulosic material isdecreased by at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, atleast 25%, or at least 30%. This decreased need for cellulases canresult in a significant decrease in costs associated with producingfermentation products from lignocellulosic materials. Conditionssuitable for simultaneous hydrolysis and fermentation are typically pH 5to 7 at a temperature between 30° C. and 37° C. with incubations ofbetween 24 and 96 hours or longer, such as continuous fermentations.Typically, if the ethanologenic microbe is a prokaryotic microbe, suchas E. coli, the Paenibacillus spp. is typically one that does notproduce an antimicrobial that is active against prokaryotic microbes. Ifthe ethanologenic microbe is a eukaryotic microbe, such as yeast, thePaenibacillus spp. is typically one that does produce an antimicrobialthat is active against prokaryotic microbes. It is expected that othermicrobes, including Cellulomonas spp., such as C. fimi, may also be usedin co-culture with an ethanologenic microbe produce saccharifyingenzymes during a hydrolysis/fermentation.

Ethanol fermentation is the biological process by which sugars such asglucose are converted into cellular energy, thereby producing ethanoland carbon dioxide as metabolic waste products. Ethanologenic microbestypically carry out ethanol fermentation on sugars in the absence ofoxygen. Since the process does not require oxygen, ethanol fermentationis classified as anaerobic. In general, the process begins with amolecule of glucose being broken down by the process of glycolysis intopyruvate. This reaction is accompanied by the reduction of two moleculesof NAD⁺ to NADH and a net of two ADP molecules converted to two ATP plusthe two water molecules. Pyruvate is then converted to acetaldehyde andcarbon dioxide. The acetaldehyde is subsequently reduced to ethanol bythe NADH from the previous glycolysis, which is returned to NAD⁺. Formaximum efficiencies, both pentose sugars from the hemicellulosefraction of the lignocellulosic material (e.g. xylose) and hexose sugarsfrom the cellulose fraction (e.g. glucose) can be used.

A fermentation is typically begun by adding an ethanologenic microbe toa fermentation mixture of pretreated lignocellulosic material, or insome aspects, hydrolyzed pretreated lignocellulosic material.Optionally, a Paenibacilus spp. may be added to a fermentation mixtureprior to, or at the same time as, the ethanologenic microbe. The amountof solids present at the beginning of a fermentation may be from 8% to17% weight of solids per volume of fermentation mixture (wt/vol), from10% to 15% wt/vol, or 12% wt/vol. As used herein, “solids” refers tototal dry weight of a pretreated lignocellulosic material. Theethanologenic microbe may be added to the fermentation medium so thatthe viable ethanologenic microbe, such as yeast, is present in thefermentation medium in a range from 10⁵ to 10¹², such as from 10⁷ to10¹⁰ cells per milliliter. Fermentation with ethanologenic microbes,e.g., yeast strains, is typically optimal around temperatures of 26° C.to 40° C., such as 30° C. to 37° C. A fermentation may be carried outfor between 25 and 190 hours, 40 to 170 hours, or 60 to 150 hours.

Optionally, during a fermentation the fermentation mixture may besupplemented with additional solids. For instance, between 2% and 5%wt/vol solids may be added at intervals of, for example, 12 hours or 24hours. In one aspect, a fermentation may be supplemented with solids at12 hours, 24 hours, and 36 hours. Optionally, during a fermentation thefermentation mixture may be supplemented with additional amounts of anethanologenic microbe. For instance, 1×10⁶, 1×10⁷, or 1×10⁸ cells permilliliter of an ethanologenic microbe may be added at intervals of, forexample, 12 hours or 24 hours.

The term “ethanologenic microbe” refers to any organism, includingprokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes, such as yeast and filamentousfungi, suitable for producing a desired fermentation product. Especiallysuitable ethanologenic microbes useful in the methods disclosed hereinare able to ferment, i.e., convert sugars, such as glucose, fructosemaltose, xylose, mannose and/or arabinose, directly or indirectly intothe desired fermentation product. Examples of eukaryotic ethnaologenicmicrobes include fungal organisms, such as yeast. Preferred yeastincludes strains of the genus Saccharomyces, in particular Saccharomycescerevisiae or Saccharomyces uvarum; members of the genus Pichia, inparticular Pichia stipitis or Pichia pastoris; members of the genusCandida, in particular Candida utilis, Candida arabinofermentans,Candida diddensii, Candida sonorensis, Candida shehatae, Candidatropicalis, or Candida boidinii. Other contemplated yeast includesmembers of the genus Hansenula, in particular Hansenula polymorpha orHansenula anomala; members of the genus Kluyveromyces, in particularKluyveromyces marxianus or Kluyveromyces fagilis, and members of thegenus Schizosaccharomyces, in particular Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Examples of commercially available suitable yeast include, e.g., REDSTAR and ETHANOL RED yeast (available from Fermentis/Lesaffre, USA),FALI (available from Fleischmann's Yeast, USA), SUPERSTART andTHERMOSACC fresh yeast (available from Ethanol Technology, Wisconsin,USA), BIOFERM AFT and XR (available from NABC—North American BioproductsCorporation, Georgia, USA), GERT STRAND (available from Gert Strand AB,Sweden), and FERMIQL (available from DSM Specialties). Geneticallymodified yeast may be used in certain aspects of the methods describedherein, including those capable of converting hexoses and pentoses toethanol.

Examples of prokaryotic ethanologenic microbes include, but are notlimited to, Escherichia, in particular Escherichia coli, members of thegenus Zymomonas, in particular Zymomonas mobilis, members of the genusZymobacter, in particular Zymobactor palmae, members of the genusKlebsiella, in particular Klebsiella oxytoca, members of the genusLeuconostoc, in particular Leuconostoc mesenteroides, members of thegenus Clostridium, in particular Clostridium butyricum, members of thegenus Enterobacter, in particular Enterobacter aerogenes, and members ofthe genus Thermoanaerobacter, in particular Thermoanaerobacter BG1L1(Appl. Microbiol. Biotech. 77: 61-86) and Thermoanarobacter ethanolicus,Thermoanaerobacter thermosaccharolyticum, or Thermoanaerobactermathranii. Members of the genus Lactobacillus are also envisioned as arestrains of Corynebacterium glutamicum R. Bacillus thermoglucosidaisus,and Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius.

The final step may be recovery of the fermentation product. Thefermentation product may be distilled using conventional methodsproducing ethanol, for instance 95% ethanol. For example, afterfermentation the fermentation product, e.g., ethanol, may be separatedfrom the fermented slurry. The slurry may be distilled to extract theethanol, or the ethanol may be extracted from the fermented slurry bymicro or membrane filtration techniques. Alternatively the fermentationproduct may be recovered by stripping. Methods for recovery are known inthe art and used routinely. The material remaining after recovery of thefermentation product is spent hydrolysate.

The present invention is illustrated by the following examples. It is tobe understood that the particular examples, materials, amounts, andprocedures are to be interpreted broadly in accordance with the scopeand spirit of the invention as set forth herein.

Example 1

Use of enzymes produced by Paenibacillus amylolyticus, including, butnot limited to saccharifying enzymes, to breakdown substrates composedof cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and/or pectin.

P. amylolyticus isolate C27, referred to herein as P. amylolyticus C27,was isolated from a hindgut extract of a Tipula abdominalis larva (Cooket al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol, 2007, 73:5683-5686; DeCrescenzoHenriksen et al., Lett. Appl. Microbiol, 2007, 45:491-496). P.amylolyticus C27 was grown on basal minimal media with 1% (wt/vol)carbon sources as listed in the Table 1. After 48 hours, supernatant wascollected via centrifugation and assayed for xylanase, pectinase,amylase, and CMCase (cellulase) activity using dinitrosalicylic acid(DNS).

The defined basal medium was based on Modified Davis minimal media; 7 gK₂HPO₄/liter, 3 g KH₂PO₄/liter, 1 g (NH₂)₂SO₄/liter, 0.5 g sodiumcitrate/liter, 0.1 g MgSO₄-7H₂O/liter. The original recipe includesglucose. Glucose was not added, and the sugars listed below wereindividually added to result in 11 separate media.

TABLE 1 Enzyme Assays IU/mL Substrate Xylanase Pectinase Amylase CMCaseGlucose 0 0 0.222 0.119 Mannose 0.185 0.251 0.275 0.457 Xylose 0.1270.232 0.074 0.092 Arabinose 0.125 0.225 0.094 0.15 Cellulose 0.327 0.1780.073 0 Pectin 0.135 0 0.215 0.172 Starch 0 0.186 0 0 Xylan 0.378 0.0570.09 0.119 CMC 0.168 0.206 0 0.081 Pine acid 0 0 0.093 0.093 hydrolysatePine acid 0.133 0 0.104 0.104 hydrolysate, overlimed CMC refers tocarboxymethylcellulose.

These data indicate that P. amylolyticus produces xylanase, pectinase,amylase, and cellulase when grown in the minimal basal media in thepresence of various carbon sources.

Example 2

Use of P. amylolyticus in fermentation process with yeast, whereproduction of antimicrobial polymyxin E reduces bacterial contaminantsand the production of enzymes degrades biomass.

P. amylolyticus is grown in spent (i.e., post fermentation) biomass toproduce antimicrobials and enzymes that can then be fed into thebeginning of the next round of the process. For instance, pine ispretreated using acid hydrolysis with an acid such as, for instance, ananhydride of an acid, such as an inorganic acid. Enzymes from acommercial supplier are added to start the digestion of the biomass toproduce sugars such as glucose, mannose, xylose, etc. Examples ofcommercially available enzymes that can be added include Novozyme 13 (amixture of cellulases, Novozymes, Franklinton, N.C.) and Cellobiase(Novozymes, Franklinton, N.C.). The yeast ferment the glucose andmannose to ethanol while the xylose, a carbohydrate that typicallycannot be used by yeast, accumulates in the medium. P. amylolyticus isadded to the fermenter after the ethanol is distilled. P. amylolyticusthen use the xylose as a carbon source in order to grow and to produceenzymes. Salts and other components that result in a better environmentfor growth of P. amylolyticus may be added to the fermenter, such as theingredients of the defined basal medium described above, but without anysupplemental carbon source.

More pretreated pine is added to the fermenter, along with more yeast.Because of the production of enzymes by P. amylolyticus, the amount ofcommercial enzyme required to digest the biomass is lower. Consequently,the costs associated with fermentation are decreased. Further, since P.amylolyticus may produce polymyxins (DeCrescenzo Henriksen et al., Lett.Appl. Microbiol, 2007, 45:491-496), the possibility of contamination byprokaryotic microbes is decreased.

Example 3

Production of P. amylolyticus that does not produce polymyxin E.

P. amylolyticus C27 was mutagenized with Tn917 (on plasmid pLTV3) asfollows.

Electrocompetent cell preparation. P. amylolyticus C27 was streaked outon Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) agar and incubated overnight at 37° C. Asingle colony was used to inoculate 5 mL BHI broth, which was thenincubated overnight at 37° C. with shaking. Fifty milliliters BHI brothwas inoculated with 0.5 mL (1%) of C27 overnight culture and grown toOD₆₀₀ 0.2, at which time penicillin was added to a final concentrationof 0.12 mg/L, The culture was then grown to OD₆₀₀ 0.8, harvested bycentrifugation, washed three times in electroporation buffer (316 mMsucrose, 1 mM MgCl₂), and resuspended in 0.5 mL of the same buffer.

Plasmid preparation. Plasmid pLTV3, containing Tn917, (Camilli et al.,J. Bacterid., 1990, 172:3738-3744, available from the Bacillus GeneticStock Center, The Ohio State University) was prepared from Escherichiacoli K12 ER2925 using a Qiagen spin miniprep kit. The use of this E.coli strain provides plasmid DNA free of methylation.

Electroporation. Electrocompetent C27 cells were mixed with 0.5 ug pLTV3plasmid DNA and electroporated in a 4 mm gap length cuvette (2.5 kV, 200Ω, 25 uF). After 1 hour recovery at 32° C., cells were plated on BHIcontaining erythromycin (ERM) at 5 mg/ml, and incubated at 32° C.

Library construction. P. amylolyticus C27 pLTV3 was streaked out onBHI-ERM and incubated at 32° C. for 48 hours. A single colony was usedto inoculate 5 mL BHI-ERM broth which was incubated at 32° C. overnightwith shaking. Fifty milliliters BHI-ERM broth was inoculated with 0.5 mL(1%) of C27 pLTV3 overnight culture and grown at 32° C. to OD₆₀₀ 0.2 atwhich time the temperature was increased to 41° C. and held for 5 hours.Cells were then plated on BHI-ERM agar and incubated at 37° C. for twodays.

Library screening. Colonies from BHI-ERM plates at 37° C. were pickedand patched into 200 uL BHI-ERM broth in 96-well plates. After two daysof growth, a 96-pin replicator was used to transfer cells to BHI-ERMplates. These plates were grown for 48 hours at 37° C., and, at thattime, a soft agar culture seeded with E. coli was poured onto thesurface of the plates. After 24 hours of growth, colonies displaying noinhibition of E. coli were chosen for further study.

Four thousand colonies were screened and one antibiotic loss of functionmutant was identified. This strain was designated P. amylolyticus 97-6.E. coli strains were capable of growth in culture extracts from thismutant.

Example 5

Use of P. amylolyticus antibiotic production mutant strain infermentation processes with bacteria, whereby production of enzymesdegrades biomass.

P. amylolyticus strains that are incapable of producing polymyxin E canbe used in conjunction with prokaryotic microbes, such as E. coli, thatferment biomass to yield ethanol. The P. amylolyticus mutant is grown inspent (i.e., post fermentation with a prokaryotic microbe) biomass toproduce enzymes that, can then be fed into the beginning of the nextround of the process. For instance, pine is pretreated using acidhydrolysis with an acid such as, for instance, an anhydride of an acid,such as an inorganic acid. Enzymes from a commercial supplier are addedto start the digestion of the biomass to produce sugars such as glucose,mannose, xylose, etc. The prokaryotic microbes ferment the glucose,mannose, and, typically, some xylose to ethanol. P. amylolyticus isadded to the fermenter after the ethanol is distilled. P. amylolyticusthen uses the remaining carbon sources to grow and to produce enzymes.Salts and other components that result in a better environment forgrowth of P. amylolyticus may be added to the fermenter, such as theingredients of the defined basal medium described above. Supplementalcarbon could be added if the fermenting prokaryotic microbe, such as E.coli, consumes all the carbon sources during the initial fermentation.

More pretreated pine is added to the fermenter, along with more E. coli.Because of the production of enzymes by P. amylolyticus, the amount ofcommercial enzyme required to digest the biomass is lower, which lowersthe cost of producing ethanol from biomass. Furthermore, the commercialenzymes used are typically fungal, and often have optimal activities attemperatures that are lower than the temperatures used for fermentationby a prokaryotic microbe.

Example 6

Fermentation of SO₂ Pretreated Southern Yellow Pine (10% solids) withyeast or both yeast and P. amylolyticus strain 27C64.

Pretreated G3S2 pine was produced as follows. Loblolly pine fromGeorgia, USA, was chipped to a particle size of 10 mm or less. Chipswere then pretreated with gaseous sulfur dioxide in two steps, A batchof a known amount of chips was treated with 2.5% SO₂ wt/wt of moisturecontent in chips, at a temperature of 190° C. for 5 minutes. Followingthis pretreatment step, the material was pressed using a hydraulic pressto collect liquid. This liquid was called G3L1 and was not used in theexperiments described herein. The pretreated solids (material remainingafter the liquid was pressed out and removed), was then washed withwater and pressed to a dry matter content of 40%. These washed drymatter solids are now called G3S1.

In the second step, G3S1 was impregnated with 2.5% SO₂ wt/wt of moisturecontent in the solids, and allowed to react at a temperature of 210° C.for 5 minutes. The samples obtained using these two steps ofpretreatment were named G3L2 (L is for the liquid stream) and G3S2 (S isfor the solids stream). Moisture content of the pretreated G3S2 pine was71.53%.

Fermentation with Yeast: Experiments A and B.

Two bioreactors each containing 20 g dry wt. (10% solids) of pretreatedG3S2 pine were autoclaved at 121° C. and treated with Novozyme 13 (15FPU/g) and Cellobiase (60 U/g) (Novozymes, Inc. Franklinton, N.C.).Active dried yeast (ADY, obtained from North American BioproductsCorporation, Duluth, Ga.) was inoculated at a concentration of 2 g/l ineach vessel. The total volume of fermentation was 200 ml. Sterile waterwas added to the bioreactor to mimic the addition of 27C64 to C and Dbelow.

Fermentation with Yeast and C64: Experiments C and D.

Two bioreactors each containing 20 g dry wt, (10% solids) of pretreatedG3S2 pine were autoclaved at 121° C. and treated with Novozyme 13 (12FPU/g) and Cellobiase (60 U/g). Active dried yeast was inoculated at aconcentration of 2 g/l in each bioreactor. Five hundred milliliters ofovernight grown culture of 27C64 was centrifuged, pellet resuspended ina small volume of 2×TSB and 5×10⁷ cells (roughly 0.2 grams dry weight ofbacteria) were added to the fermentor. The total volume of fermentationwas 200 ml.

TABLE 2 Ethanol production from pretreated pine G3S2 at 10% solids withand without coinoculation with the bacterium 27C64. Columns A and B(experiments A and B) used only yeast cells and 15 FPU cellulase and 60U cellobiase per gram dry weight of G3S2. Columns C and D (experiments Cand D) used only 12 FPU cellulase and 60 U cellobiase per gram dryweight of G3S2 with inoculation of 27C64 cells at the same time as yeastand commercial enzyme addition. Ethanol (g/L): Yeast Yeast and 27C64Time (h) A B C D 24 22.71 23.08 23.56 23.33 48 26.40 26.84 30.07 28.99144 27.21 28.37 30.28 29.93

Maximum ethanol per FPU of Novozyme enzyme in experiments A and B:Average of ethanol production was 27.79 g/L*0.2L=5.558 g ethanol/300total FPU=0.0185 g ethanol/FPU Novozyme cellulase enzyme. At 48 hours26.62 g/L*0.2L=5.324/300 FPU total=0.01775 g ethanol/FPU Novozymecellulase enzyme.

Maximum ethanol per FPU of Novozyme enzyme in experiments C and D:Average of ethanol production was 30.105 g/L*0.2L=6,021 g ethanol/240total FPU=0.0251 g ethanol/FPU Novozyme cellulase enzyme. At 48 hours29.53 g ethanol/L=5.906 g ethanol/240 FPU=0.0246 g ethanol/FPU Novozymecellulase enzyme. The maximum ethanol concentration theoreticallypossible for this pretreated pine G3S2 was 31.8 g ethanol per liter offermentation broth.

These data clearly demonstrate it was possible to reduce theconcentration of Novozyme cellulase enzyme by 20%, from 15 FPU/g dry wtbiomass to 12 FPU/g dry wt biomass without sacrificing ethanolproduction.

Example 7 Fermentation of SO₂ Pretreated Southern Yellow Pine (15%solids) with a Culture of Yeast and P. Amylolyticus Strain 27C64: Effectof Step Wise Addition of G3S2 Solids

Pretreated G3S2 pine was produced as described in Example 6. Moisturecontent of pretreated G3S2 pine was 71.53%.

Experiment 1: Effect of step wise addition of G3S2 solids (total solids15%) and yeast.

Ten percent dry weight G3S2 solids were fermented simultaneously withenzymes Novozyme 13 (15 FPU/g dry wt) and Cellobiase (60 U/g) and activedried yeast (2 g/l). Eight grams G3S2, enzymes Novozyme 13 andCellobiase for 8 g solids, and 0.1 g ADY were added to the abovebioreactors at 12 hours, 24 hours, and 36 hours. The total volume wasapproximately 250 ml after the solids additions.

Results.

TABLE 3 Ethanol (g/L): G3S2 Time (h) A B 0 0.67 0.56 12* 14.04 13.10 24*27.97 27.86 36* 32.30 32.78 48  40.35 40.35 72  42.92 42.26 96  46.6446.02 120  43.69 44.56 *Ethanol after addition of 8 g solids

These data demonstrate maximum ethanol production at 96 hours was 46.3g/L*0.250L=11.575 g ethanol when yeast was used.

Experiment 2: Effect of Step Wise Addition of G3S2 Solids (Total Solids17.6%) with Yeast and C64.

Pretreated G3S2 pine was produced as described in Example 6. Moisturecontent of pretreated GA3 pine was 71.53%.

I. Fermentation Using 27C64 Cells and Culture Broth Containing EnzymesAdded 24 Hours Prior to Inoculation with Yeast.

A bioreactor containing 20 g dry wt. (10% solids) of pretreated G3S2pine was autoclaved at 121° C. and treated with Novozyme 1.3 (12 FPU/g)and Cellobiase (60 U/g). 8×TSB (25 ml) was added as a nutrient source.Five hundred milliliters of 27C64 culture was centrifuged and 75 ml ofsupernatant was added to each of two bioreactors. At time −24 hours,27C64 cell pellets were resuspended in TSB and added to the bioreactors.The fermenters were mixed well and a sample removed for plate counts. Attime −24 hours, i.e., 24 hours before addition of yeast, approximately2×10⁵ cells per ml were present. ADY was inoculated at a concentrationof 2 g/l in the bioreactor at time zero.

Eight grams dry weight G3S2 solids, enzymes Novozyme 13 and Cellobiasefor 8 g solids, and 0.1 g ADY were added to the above bioreactors at 36hours, 48 hours, and 60 hours. The total volume was approximately 290ml. At 24 hours the number of C64 cells had decreased to 1×10⁵ cells perml.

II. Fermentation Using Yeast, 27C64 Cells, and Culture Broth ContainingEnzymes Added at the Same Time as the Yeast Inoculum.

A bioreactor containing 20 g dry wt. (10% solids) of pretreated G3S2pine was autoclaved at 121° C. and treated with Novozyme 13 (12 FPU/g)and Cellobiase (60 U/g). 8×TSB (25 ml) was added as a nutrient source.Two hundred fifty milliliters of 27C64 culture was centrifuged and 75 mlsupernatant containing 27C64 enzymes was added to the bioreactor. Thecell pellet was resuspended in a small amount of TSB, added to thebioreactor, and mixed well. Samples were removed for plate counts andreflected approximately 3×10⁵ cells per ml were present at time zero. Attime zero, 27C64 pellets which were resuspended in TSB were inoculatedalong with ADY at a concentration of 2 g/l.

Eight grams dry weight G3S2 solids, enzymes Novozyme 13 and Cellobiasefor 8 g solids, and 0.1 g ADY were added to the above bioreactors at 12hours, 24 hours, and 36 hours. The total volume was approximately 290ml. At 24 hours the number of C64 cells had decreased to 7×10⁴ cells perml.

Spore count at time 0 and 24 hours: no spores detected.

TABLE 4 Ethanol (g/L): 27C64 cells and broth alone, yeast addition at27C64 cells, broth, time zero (24 hours after and yeast added Time(hours) addition of 27C64 cells) all at time 0. −24  0 NA 0 1.30  1.0012* 14.70 15.31 24* 25.51 24.48 36* 31.21 30.77 48  42.78 35.24 79 45.08 40.15 96  46.60 46.12 120  48.00 47.00 144  48.05 48.15 −24 refersto 24 hours prior to inoculation with yeast. *Ethanol after addition of8 g solids

At 96 hours the average ethanol production was 46.12 g/L*0.29 L=13.38 gethanol for 0.0253 g ethanol/FPU Novozyme cellulase. The average maximumethanol (144 hours) was 48.15 g/L*0.290 L=13.96 g ethanol for 0.0264 gethanol/FPU Novozyme cellulase.

In summary, fermentations with addition of P. amylolyticus 27C64 cellsat the same time as inoculation with yeast reached the same or greaterethanol concentrations with 20% less commercial enzyme. Adding 27C64cells and broth containing Paenibacillus enzymes 24 hours prior to yeastinoculation changes the overall process time by 24 hours withoutincreasing ethanol yield. The ethanol concentrations for 48 and 72 hoursafter yeast inoculation, with and without pre-incubation with 27C64,were higher for the fermentations with pre-incubations, however by 96hours there was no difference in ethanol yields (see Table 5).

TABLE 5 Comparison of ethanol production with and without Paenibacilluscells, with and without solids addition. FPU Solids added gramsCommercial after Final Total Ethanol/FPU 27C64 cells Enzyme fermentationsolids % Time Ethanol Ethanol Novozyme Parameter added. added. began.dry wt (hours) (g/L) (g) Cellulase 10% Solids No 15 FPU No 10% 48 26.625.324 0.0178 144 27.79 5.558 0.0185 Yes 12 FPU No 10% 48 29.53 5.9060.0246 144 30.11 6.021 0.0251 10% No ??? Yes 15% 48 40.35 10.09 0.0153Solids 96 46.33 11.58 0.0175 120 44.11 11.03 0.0167 Yes, added with 12FPU Yes 15% 48 35.24 10.26 0.0194 supernatant and 96 46.12 13.38 0.0253yeast at t = 0. 144 48.15 13.96 0.0264 Yes, added with 12 FPU Yes 15% 4842.78 12.41 0.0235 supernatant 24 96 46.60 13.07 0.0248 hours prior to144 48.05 13.93 0.0264 addition of yeast * Time is equal to the hoursafter yeast were added to the fermenters.

The complete disclosure of all patents, patent applications, andpublications, and electronically available material (including, forinstance, nucleotide sequence submissions in, e.g., GenBank and RefSeq,and amino acid sequence submissions in, e.g., SwissProt, PIR, PRF, PDB,and translations from annotated coding regions in GenBank and RefSeq)cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In theevent that any inconsistency exists between the disclosure of thepresent application and the disclosure(s) of any document incorporatedherein by reference, the disclosure of the present application shallgovern. The foregoing detailed description and examples have been givenfor clarity of understanding only. No unnecessary limitations are to beunderstood therefrom. The invention is not limited to the exact detailsshown and described, for variations obvious to one skilled in the artwill be included within the invention defined by the claims.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities ofcomponents, molecular weights, and so forth used in the specificationand claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances bythe term “about.” Accordingly, unless otherwise indicated to thecontrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the specification andclaims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desiredproperties sought to be obtained by the present invention. At the veryleast, and not as an attempt to limit the doctrine of equivalents to thescope of the claims, each numerical parameter should at least beconstrued in light of the number of reported significant digits and byapplying ordinary rounding techniques.

Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forththe broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numericalvalues set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely aspossible. All numerical values, however, inherently contain a rangenecessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in theirrespective testing measurements.

All headings are for the convenience of the reader and should not beused to limit the meaning of the text that follows the heading, unlessso specified.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for producing ethanol comprising:fermenting a composition comprising a pretreated lignocellulosicmaterial, wherein the fermenting comprises contacting the compositionwith an ethanologenic microbe and a Paenibacillus spp., wherein thePaenibacillis spp. produces an enzyme having saccharifying activity whenincubated on a medium comprising inorganic salts and a carbon sourceselected from glucose, mannose, xylose, arabinose, cellulose, pectin,starch, xylan, carboxymethylcellulose, or a combination thereof.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the pretreated lignocellulosic material ispresent at a concentration of at least 10% solids.
 3. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the fermenting is a simultaneous saccharification andfermentation.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the ethanologenic microbeis a yeast.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the yeast is Saccharomycescerevisiae.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the ethanologenic microbeis E. coli.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the pretreatedlignocellulosic material is pine.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein thepine is Pinus taeda.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the Paenibacillisspp. is P. amylolyticus.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein thecontacting comprises inoculating the composition with the Paenibacillisspp. before inoculating the composition with the ethanologenic microbe.11. The method of claim 1 wherein contacting comprises inoculating thecomposition with the Paenibacillus spp. at least 12 hours before thecomposition is inoculated with the ethanologenic microbe.
 12. The methodof claim 1 wherein the contacting comprises inoculating the compositionwith the Paenibacillis spp. and the ethanologenic microbe atsubstantially the same time.
 13. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising adding pretreated lignocellulosic material to the compositionafter the fermenting has begun.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein theadding occurs at least 12 hours after the fermenting has begun.